Rotman Documentary Insights presents "Plastic People"

Rotman Documentary Insights presents: Plastic People: The Hidden Crisis of Microplastics

Documentary Synopsis:

The ground-breaking feature documentary, Plastic People, investigates our addiction to plastic and the growing threat of microplastics on human health. Almost every bit of plastic ever made breaks down into “microplastics.” These microscopic particles drift in the air, float in all bodies of water, and mix into the soil, becoming a permanent part of the environment.

Now, leading scientists are finding these particles in our bodies: organs, blood, brain tissue, and even the placentas of new mothers. What is the impact of these invisible invaders on our health? And can anything be done about it?

Acclaimed author and science journalist Ziya Tong takes a personal approach by visiting leading scientists around the world and undergoing experiments in her home, on her food, and her body while collaborating with award-winning director Ben Addelman (Discordia, Bombay Calling, Nollywood Babylon, Kivalina v. Exxon) in an urgent call to action for all of us to rethink our relationship with plastic.

Speakers:

Ben Addelman, Director

Ziya Tong, Co-Director

Brett Hendrie, Director, Strategic Events, Rotman School of Management

About our Speakers:

Ben Addelman is the director of four award-winning feature documentaries (Discordia, Nollywood Babylon, Bombay Calling, Kivalina vs Exxon) and numerous TV series (Becoming You, Payday, Limitless). His fifth feature documentary – Plastic People – was released in 2024. His films have screened at major festivals including Sundance, SXSW, Hotdocs, Edinburgh, Human Rights Watch NYC and Whistler. His work has been broadcast on Apple TV+, Disney +, Netflix, BBC, Viceland, CBC, Sundance Channel, National Geographic, and others.

Ziya Tong is an award-winning author and broadcaster, best known for her work with Discovery’s flagship science show, Daily Planet, and NOVA ScienceNow on PBS. She is the author of the best-selling book The Reality Bubble, which was shortlisted for Canada’s most prestigious non-fiction literary prize, and won the Lane Anderson Award for best science writing. Ziya served as the Vice Chair of WWF Canada and currently serves as a trustee of WWF International.

Brett Hendrie is Director, Strategic Events at the Rotman School, where he leads the school’s thought-leadership events portfolio through digital and live-event programs. He also hosts Rotman’s award-winning Visiting Experts podcast, which explores transformative ideas about business and society with influential executives, thought leaders and scholars. Previously, Brett spent 20 years at Hot Docs where he served as Executive Director, developing major content and event partnerships with Netflix, Scotiabank, Rogers and CBC.

Event Logistics:

This event is available to attend IN-PERSON only.

Rotman Events is committed to accessibility for all people. If you have any access needs or if there are any ways we can support your full participation in this session, please email Mandi Gosling [events@rotman.utoronto.ca] no later than 2 weeks in advance of the event and we will be glad to work with you to make the appropriate arrangements.

General Admission: In-Person Ticket Details

• The event will be hosted at Innis Town Hall (2 Sussex Ave. Toronto, ON M5S 1J5). Your registration fee includes a seat in the theatre for the film screening and moderated Q&A.

Cancellation/Refund Policy

• Refunds will only be issued for cancellations received in writing NO LATER than 24 hours prior to the event. Please email events@rotman.utoronto.ca for processing.

Questions: events@rotman.utoronto.ca, Mandi Gosling